It gave me the motivation to stop smoking.
You can get motivation to stop smoking through other means that work as well, if not better. I had a JW relative that was DFd for smoking. He kept on smoking. He didn't quit until the doctors told him to quit or die. That was better movitvation than being told we couldn't talk to him.
It taught me not to be in fear of hellfire.
JWs aren't the only religion that teaches the non-hellfire doctrine. And instead of hellfire, the JWs teach the fear of dying in a horrible death at a Armageddon. Not much better really.
It taught me to be a better person,.
I've heard that argument before and there may be some truth to it for certain individuals...but I've met people who became Born-again Christian, Baptists, even Catholics and it made them a "better" person. I've met people who quit drinking or taking drugs and became a better person. Being a JW doesn't automatically make just anyone a better person, its the changes you make to yourself that makes you a better person. All you need is the motivator. The motivation of a lie(living forever in a paradise earth) doesn't work for me.
It taught me to be a better public speaker and reader.
I don't think the advantages of learning to be a better speaker outweigh the disadvantages of being in a cult...I may be a better speaker than some of my peers, but years of the Ministry School did not make me a great speaker. It just got me through school a little better prepared.
It taught me better study habits which helped for college etc.
If, by better study habits, you mean, read, repeat, read, repeat, read, repeat, then I'm sorry to tell you...that's not the best way to learn anything...
it taught me how to "cold sell " good for sales training
LOL...I'll give you that one. JWs aren't Christians...they're marketing reps. They're trained to take any situation or conversation and turn into a sales pitch to try to sell their religion.
it taught me how to deal with people better
Leaving the JWs taught me how to accept people better and in turn that lets you deal with them better. While I was a JW I was brainwashed into disliking anyone who wasn't a JW. I became jaded in my view of all people not in the JW faith. By being freed of that, I can see that people aren't evil, demonic monsters...they're people just like most JWs I knew. Some are better than some JWs.
On the RBC it taught me building skills
The RBC taught me how a shady contractor can use free labor in order to make a profit on building a religious building. And it taught me just how little patience some JW builders have with the inexperienced helpers that showed up. Do you think you couldn't learn building skills outside the JWs? How in the hell was anything built before they came along then?
I admire you to a point for looking for the positive in the JWs. There are some good people and there are some things about being a JW that aren't controversial or bad for you.
But the things you mention here can be achieved in any number of ways besides being a JW. And if this is all that one can come up with to defend them as a "better" way of life, then your position is pretty indefensible.
